Donaire seeks win to prove doubters wrong

Nonito Donaire Jr. believes beating Fernando Montiel in their scheduled 12-round bout next week could finally silence critics that doubt his capacity as a world champion. Donaire will challenge Montiel for the Mexican champion’s unified World Boxing Council (WBC) and World Boxing Organization (WBO) bantamweight title belts on February 19, Saturday (Sunday in Manila) at the Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino, in Las Vegas, Nevada. "There are plenty out there who doubt my ability as a champion, and that's fine (with me) It's up to me to prove them (wrong). Once I take Montiel down, then that is more of a sweet victory," said Donaire in an interview with BoxingScene.com. "I think the big boys will notice what I'm capable of. What I bring on the table, what I bring to the audience. I think it will definitely get my name out there as one of the elite. There will be no more doubters left out there if I get past Montiel." Donaire, known as the "Filipino Flash," has previously won the World Boxing Association (WBA) super flyweight, and International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization flyweight straps. "This is the biggest fight of my careers at this time," said the 28-year-old Donaire, who is ranked the fifth pound-for-pound boxer in the world by The Ring magazine. "I'm fighting a guy who has been there for quite a while. This guy can be a Hall of Famer when he's done with boxing. His only defeats are to guys who were world champions," added Donaire (25 wins, 17 by knockout, with one loss). The 31-year-old Montiel holds a 44-2-2 record and has not lost since suffering a split decision to countrymen Jhonny Gonzales on May 27, 2006 for the WBO bantamweight crown. "When I beat this guy (Montiel), this would give me all the confidence that I do belong in here and belong with the top guys. This is really important to me to be able to stay in boxing," said Donaire, who is also ranked third by BleacherReport.com among the Top 10 boxers list who could win in different weight divisions. Top Rank promotions big boss Bob Arum believes a win by Donaire would pay huge dividends for the Talibon, Bohol-born fighter. Donaire now resides in San Leandro, California. "I think it would establish him as the best bantamweight in the world, having beaten a (future) Hall of Fame fighter," said Arum. Arum added that a win by Donaire would strengthen his credentials for fighting in a higher weight division, like the super bantamweight or the featherweight classes. - Jon Perez, GMANews.TV